Locking device



0a. 16, 1934. J. J. HAYS 1,976,724

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOR WIT -4 o fu/z/z 176 5 7/ BY w Z0 Z4 M14 is ATTORNEY J. J. HAYS LOCKING DEVICE Oct. 16, 1934.

Filed Sept. 12 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a R5 1 ww n W. NZ N 6 5 6 J M m M "M Z Z T 7 )m B 1 5 M E 5 7 4 W 2 11' 5 6 a 5 4 .6 4 m m H 6 I n w 6 M 1 w 4 Wm A I, y w x\ m a 7 ,6 s 5 a E WM w 6 5r Oct. 16, 1934. J J HAYS 1,976,724

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1933 3Sheecs-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WITNESSES Patented Oct. 16, 1934 twain LOCKKNG nnvior.

John 3. Hays, Whitestone, N. Y., assignor to Sentry Lock fiompany,

corporation of New York Inc., Flushing, N. Y., a

Application September 12,1933, Serial No. 689,145

253 Claims.

,An object of the invention is to provide a lock-' ing device which may be used for various purposes, although it is of particular value as a means for lockingautomotive vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device havinga plurality of keys, one or more of the keys serving to open or unlock the device, certain other of the keys serving to block and prevent the unlocking of the device, and another key or keys serving to restore the parts for; operation by the first mentioned key or keys.

Still another object of the invention is to proe vide the locking device with means to look a steering post, means to open and close a switch, andmeans to look a casing in which the locking device is disposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide the locking device with a rocking member having a blocking arm, a restoring arm and an operating arm, with means to operatively engage the arms, so that the said means may engage the restoring .arm to move the rocking member to a position where the operating arm may be engaged by the said means, thesaid means also serving to engage the blocking arm to move the rocking member'to position the operating arm out of position for engagement with the said means.

The invention also comprehends means to unlock the steering post and to close a switch which 'is held in operative position after it has been moved'thereto.

Additional objects of the invention will appear in the following specification in which the preferred form of the invention is described.

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all the views, of-which Figure 1 is a fragmentary View showing the locking device mounted on the steering post of an automobile,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the cover of the casing shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional plan View of the casing with the cover removed,

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figured,

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to the sectional view illustrated in Figure 5, but showing the rocking members in blocking position,

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of 55 Figure 4,

Figure 8 is anenlarged sectionalview on the line 8-3 of Figure 4, 1 a p l l Figure 9-is a side elevation of one of the keys with its lateral extension, 1 I

Figure 10 is a plan view of Figure 9,, and -Figure 11 is an enlarged view of one of the screws for holding the cover of the casing in.place.- By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a casing 15 is provided, whichfas shown in Figures-1, ,2 and 7', is normally secured to a steering post 16' of an automotive vehicle, but it will be understood that the casing 15 maybe mounted in any desired manner for use not only inconnection with a steering post, but also in connection with any other article or device which is to be locked. The casing 15 has a cover 16, the cover 16 having lugs 17 with apertures 18, the said apertures 18 registering, when the cover 16 is closed, with threaded apertures 19 in the sides of the casing 15. Disposed in the apertures 18 and 19 at each side of the casing 15, there is a screw 20, which is best shown in Figure 11, each screw 20 having a thread 21 which is spaced from a thread 22 on the screw 20, the second thread 22 serving as a head. It will be understood that these screws 20 may be turned home in thethreaded apertures 19 and in the apertures 18, when they will be disposed as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Journaled in bearings 23 and 24 in thecasing 15 there is an operating or service member 25, the operating member'25 having arms 26'and 26' which. are adapted to engage the screws 20 between the threads 21 and 22, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 to prevent the withdrawal of the screws 20 from the apertures 18 and 19. The, inner end of the operating member. 25 has an opening 27 in which there is a spring 28, the spring 28 serving to press the operating member 25 to the left and to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4, when the operating member is free. When the operating member .25 is-rotated and is moved to the left, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4, the arm 26' will be disposed in a groove 29 at the inner side of the casing 15, the spring 28 serving to hold the operating member 25 to the left with its said arm 26 in the saidgroove 29.

Disposed in the casing 15 there are two carriages 30 which are spaced apart, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. Extending from a plate 31 secured to the bottom of the casing 15 there are guide pins 32 which extend through apertures 33 in the carriages 30. There is also another guide pin 34 which is secured to the plate 31, this guide pin 34 extending in a guideway 35 in the carriage 30, the head of this carriage at 36 closing the guideway 35 to limit the downward movement of the carriage relatively to the plate 31. There is a channel 37 around the guideway 35 in which a spring 38 is disposed, the spring 38 serving to hold the carriage yieldingly upwardly and away from the plate 31. Each of the two carriages '30 is constructed and mounted in the manner described and each carriage 30 has upwardly extending arms 39 in which a shaft 40 is journaled, the shaft 40 at one end being disposed in a slot 41 in the casing 15 and the other end 42 of each of the shafts 40 being normally disposed in a slot 43 in the operating member 25.

Mounted on each of the shafts 40 there is a plurality of blocking arms, which are indicated in the drawings by the reference characters 44 44 44, 44 44 44, 44 and 44 be seen by referring to Figure 4 of the drawings,

.theseblocking arms 44 44", 44, 44 44, 44,

and 44 will be inclined slightly upwardly and the restoring arms 45 will be inclined slightly downwardly, as best shown at the left inFigure 5. The blocking arms, the restoring arms and the operating arms are interchangeable and are secured to the shafts 40 by means of clamping members 47 which are secured together by screws 48.

The cover 16 is shown with four rows of keys 49, 50, 51 and 52, each of the keys having a lateral extension 53. As best shown in Figure 3, the lateral extensions 53 on the keys 52 lap the lateral extensions 53 on the keys 51 and the lateral extensions 53 on the keys 50 lap the lateral extensions on the keys 49. By referring to Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the key G in the row 51 will have its lateral extension 53 disposed at the arm 44*, that the lateral extension 53 on the key J will have its extension disposed at the arm 44 that the lateral extension, 53 on the key K in the row 52 will have its lateral extension at the arm 44 that the lateral extension 53 on the key H in the row 51 will have its lateral extension at the arm 46, that the lateral extension 53 on the key L in the row 52 will be disposed at the arm 44 and that the lateral extension 53 on the key I in the row 51 will be disposed for engaging the arm 45. In a similar way, thelateral extension 53 on the key C will be disposed for engaging the arm 44 the lateral extension 53 on the key F will be disposed for engaging the arm 44, the lateral extension 53 on the key 13 will be disposed for engaging the arm 45, the lateral extension 53 on the key E will be disposed for engaging the arm 44*, the lateral extension 53 on the key A will be disposed for engaging the arm 46, and the lateral extension 53 on the key D will be disposed for engaging the arm 44 The arms 44*, 44 44, 44 44, 44, 44 and 44 are blocking arms and when they-are pushed downwardly by the lateral extensions 53 on their companion keys, this action will serve to rotate the shafts 40 to position the shafts with their several arms as shown in Figure 6. When in this position,'the operat-- ing arms 46 will be disposed at recesses 54 in the lateral extensions 53, of the keys A and 1-1 As will best respectively; so that, when the shafts are so positioned, the arms 46 will not be engaged by the lateral extensions 53 on the associated keys and that there will be no downward movement of the carriage 30 in such a case.

Therefore, to operate the device, it is necessary to press downwardly the keys B and I having the lateral extensions53 at the restoring arms 45, which will serve to rotate the shafts 40 to position the arms as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. When this has been done, the keys A and H having lateral extensions 53 disposed at the arms 46 may be pressed downwardly in contact with said arms 46, which will press down the carriages 30 against the resiliency of the springs 36, which will move the ends 42 of the shafts 40 downwardly and out of the slots 43 in the operating member 25, this being shown by the dotted lines in Figure 8 of the drawings.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the keys are dis posed for moving in apertures 55 in the cover 16, the cover having at its underside guide members 56 in which are disposed guide pins 57, springs 58 being provided for holding the keys yieldingly upwardly. I

[is has been stated, when the keys B and I operating the restoring arms 45 have been operated, and the keys A and H operating the operating arms 46 are subsequently operated, the car-' riage 30 is moved downward to move the ends 42 of the shaft 40 out of the recesses 43, as has been stated. The operating member 25 may then be rotated by means of its fingerpiece59, which will move the arm 26 in alignment with the groove 29 in the casing 15. The spring 28 will then serve to move the operating member 25 outwardly to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4, which will dispose the arm 26 in the said groove 29, which will preventa further rotary movement of the operating member 25 until the operating member 25 is again moved inwardly. With the operating member 25 disposed .out-' wardly, and with its arm 26' disposed in. the groove 29, the slots 43 in the operating member 25 will be disposed away from the ends 42 of the shafts 40, so that the carriages 30 will be held. downwardly, although the keys, after their operation, will return to their normal positions by means of the springs 58.

With the rotary movement of the operating member 25, an arm 60 on the operating member 25 will be moved against a switch member 61 to press the said switch member 61 against a switch member 62 to close a circuit which may be connected with the ignition system and, if. desired, with the starter of an automotive vehicle. The operating member 25 also has an arm 63 which, when the operating member 25 has been rotated as has been described, will press downwardly against an arm 64 having a dog 65 which normally engages ratchet teeth 66 on a collar 67 secured to the steering shaft 68 in the steering post 16. It will, therefore, be seen that, when the proper keys are pressed downwardly to engage the restoring arms 45 to position the arms 46 upwardly and, when the keys, which serve to operate the said operating arms 46, are pressed. downwardly, the operating member 25 will be free from the ends 42 of the shafts 40 and that, with the rotation of the operating member 25, the switch having the switch members 61 and 62 will be closed and that the dog 65 will be moved out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 66 on the collar 67 secured'to the steering shaft 63 and, further, that the arm 26 on the operating member 25 will be moved into alignment with the groove 29. With the operating member 25 so disposed, the spring 28 will press the operating member 25 outwardly to position the arm 26 in the groove 29 with the switch closed and the dog 65 free from the ratchetteeth. The automotive vehicle may then be operated in the usual manner.

When the operatingmem-ber 25 is disposed as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the arms 26 and 26' on the operating member 25 will be disposed in engagement with the threaded sleeves 22 on the screws 20, which will serve to lock the cover 16 on the casing 15, as well as to lock the steering shaft 68 and, with the arm 60 disposed away from the switch member 21 so that the switch will be open. It will, therefore, be understood thatit will be impossible to remove the cover 16 from the casing 15 without knowing the combination of the locking-device. However, when the combination of the'locking device is known and when the locking device is opened, the cover 16 may be readily removed from the casing 15 to permit of-a readjustment of the arms 44, 45 and 46 on the shafts 40.

It will be understood that, with the ratchet teeth 66, when the device is in locked position, it will nevertheless be possible to turn the steering wheel to permit the automotive vehicle to ad- Vance to the left, so that it may be moved away from the curb when occasion requires.

What is claimed is;

1. A locking device having a rocking member with operating means, blocking means and restoring means, a manipulatable member for engaging the operating means when the rocking member is in a predetermined position relatively to the said second member, manipulatable members for engaging the blocking means to rotate the rocking member away from the said position, and a manipulatable member for engaging the restoring means for rotating the rocking member to the said predetermined position. i

2. A locking device having -a movable member with operating means, blocking means and re-' storing means, manipulatable members for en- 3. A locking device having a rocking member with operating means, blocking means and restoring means, a manipulatable member for engaging the operating means when the rocking member is in a predetermined position relatively to the said member, manipulatable members for engaging the blocking means to rotate the rock. ing member in one direction away from the said position, and manipulatable members for engaging the restoring means for rotating the rocking member in the opposite direction to the said predetermined position.

4. In a locking device, a rocking member having blocking arms and a restoring arm, the rocking member also having an operating arm, a member for operatively engaging the operating arm when the rocking member is rotated to a predetermined position, members for engaging the blocking arms for rotating the rocking member away from the said position, a member for engaging the restoring arm for rotating the rocking member to the'said predetermined position, and operative means-operable by the rocking member.

5. In a locking device, a rocking member having blocking arms extending in one direction and a restoring arm extending in another direction, the rocking member also having an operating arm extending in a direction between the blocking arms and the restoring arm,a member for op- .eratively engaging the operating arm when the rocking member is rotated to a predetermined position, members for engaging the blocking arms for rotating the rocking member away from the ing arms for rotating the rocking member away from the said position, the second mentioned member having a recess for receiving the operating arm when the rocking member is rotated away from the said position by the third mentioned-members, a member for engaging the restoring arm for rotating the rocking member back to the saidpredetermined position, and operative means operable by the rocking member.

7. In a locking devicdja shaft-blocking arms extending in one direction-from the shaft and a restoring arm extending in another direction from the shaft, an operating arm extending in a direction from the shaft between the blocking arms and the restoring arm, the blocking arms, the restoring arm and the operating arm being interchangeable on the shaft, means for securing the said arms to the shaft, members for engaging the arms respectively, the members having recesses positioned for receiving the operating arm when the shaft has been rotated by the engagement of one of the members with the blocking arms, and operative means operable by the shaft.

8. In a locking device, a shaft, blocking arms extending from the shaft in one direction, a restoring arm extending from the shaft in the opposite direction, an operating arm'extending in a direction from the 'shaft'between the blocking arms and the restoring arm, the arms being interchangeable, means for securing the arms to the shaft, members positioned for operatively en gaging the arms, the members having recesses for receiving the operating arm when the shaft has been rotated by the engagement of one of the blocking arms by one of the members, and op tensions for. receiving the operating arm when the shaft has been rotated by the engagement of a lateral extension with one of the blocking arms, and operative means operable by the shaft.

IaG

10. In a locking device, a shaft, blocking-arms extending from the shaft in one direction a restoring arm extending from the shaft in'another direction, an operating arm extending from the shaft in a direction between the blocking arms and the restoring arm, two-rows of keys spaced apart at the sides of the arms, thekeys having lateral lapping extensions disposedfor operatively engaging the arms, there being a recess in each of the lateral extensions for. receiv: ing the operating arm when the shaft has been rotated by the engagement of a lateral extension with one of theblockingarms, and operative means operable by the shaft. 1

11. In a locking device, a carriage-having a shaft, resilient means for..holding the carriage yieldingly in a predetermined position, blocking arms extending fromthe shaft in one direction, a restoring armextending from the shaft in another direction, an operating armextendingfrom the shaft in a direction between the blocking arms and the restoring arm, meansffor secur ing the arms to the shaft, members positioned for operatively engaging the arms ,-each of the members, having a recess'forreceiving the operating arm when. theshaft has been rotated by the engagement'of one of the blocking arms by one of the members, and; operative means operable by the carriage. 1 r 7 12. In a locking device, an operating member, a shaft havingmeans for locking the operating member, blocking arms extending. from the shaft in one direction, a restoring arm extending from the shaft in another direction, an operating arm extending from the shaft in a'direction between tating the shaft-in one direction, a member for engaging-the restoring arm-for rotating the, shaft in the opposite direction, and another member for engagingthe operating arm'for moving the shaft relatively to the operating member when the shaft has beenv rotatedby the engagement of the second mentioned member with the. re- ,;storing arm. v 13. In a locking device, an operating member, ashaft having means for locking the operatingposite direction, and anothermemberfor engaging the operating means for moving the. shaft relatively to the operating member when-the shaft has been rotated by the i engagementfl of the third mentioned member with the restoring means.

.14. In a locking-device, a casing. having a cover, a lug on the cover with an aperture, there being an aperture in the casing which registers with the first mentioned aperture when the cover is closed, a member disposed in the apertures to secure the cover, the member having a head on 1 its inner end, a rotatable operating memberin tart-sag mally disposed in. the slot to prevent the rotation of the operating member, a control element, locking means. for; the control element, and means on the operating member for moving the locking means relatively to the-control element. 1 16. Ina locking device, a casing, an operating member. rotatably disposed in the casing, the operating member having a slot in one of its sides, locking mechanism-having a member normally disposedin the slot to prevent the rotation of the operating member,;.a rotatable element having ratchet teeth, a spring-pressed dog for engaging the ratchet teeth, and means on the operating member for moving the dog away from theratchet teeth. r i a a 17." In a locking device, a casing, anoperating member disposed for rotating and for moving longitudinally in. the casing, the operating member having a slot in one of its sides, locking mechanismhaving a member normally, disposed in the slottoprevent the rotation and longitudinal movement of the operatingmember, a rotatable element, locking means for said element, and means on the operating member for moving the locking means relatively to said element.

v 18. In a locking device, a casing. having a cover, a lugon-thecover ,with an aperture, there being. an'aperture in the casing which registers with the first mentioned aperture when the cover is closed, there being a groove in the inner wall of the casing adjacent the second mentioned aperture, an operating member. disposed for rotating andfor moving longitudinally inthe casing, the operating member. having a slot in one of its sides, locking mechanism havingv a member normally disposed in the slot to prevent the rotation andv longitudinal -movement of the. operating. membenf a rotatable element, locking means for said element,;means on the operating memberfor moving the. locking means relatively to said element, a member normally disposedin the apertures and having a head adjacent its inner end, and .an armon the operating member normally engaging the head, the arm being disposed inthe groove to prevent the rotation of the operating member when the operating memher isrotated and is moved longitudinally.

'19. A look, including a carrierhaving'a relatively movable looking member, resilient means to retain the carrier ina normal position so that the locking memberniay engage a part to be looked, a plurality of .spring actuated keys, and a plurality of projections on said locking member with which said keys are adapted to cooperate to move the locking memberirelatively to the carrier, and then move both the carrier and the locking nember, subject to the action of the resilient means, to unlock said part. K i

20. A look including a.carrier having guided up anddown movement, a locking member the locking member relatively to the carrier, and,

then move both the carrier and locking member downwardly, subject to the action of the resilient means, to unlock said. part. 7

. JOHN J. HAYS. 7

was 

